Sirsa MP, former Union Minister, AICC General Secretary and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Kumari Selja raised Haryana’s worsening water crisis at the Jal Jeevan Mission meeting, urging the Centre to fast-track the Yamuna-Ghaggar Link project. Expressing concern over water scarcity in 14 districts, she demanded equitable distribution of canal water up to the tail end and stressed the need for the full and efficient utilization of Bhakra waters to safeguard the state’s water security. Kumari Selja has strongly urged the Union Government to prioritise the proposed Yamuna-Ghaggar Link Project under the National River Interlinking Programme, saying the project could fundamentally transform water management across Western Haryana while simultaneously addressing recurring floods and irrigation shortages.

Speaking during a meeting of Haryana’s Members of Parliament with the Union Jal Shakti Minister, Selja raised a series of issues concerning water security, irrigation infrastructure, Ghaggar River rejuvenation, Otu Lake restoration and equitable distribution of water resources across the state.
She said Haryana continues to face a contradictory situation where enormous quantities of monsoon water flow away every year causing floods and damage, while large parts of Sirsa, Fatehabad and neighbouring districts continue to struggle with inadequate irrigation and drinking water supplies. She stressed that the time has come to replace short-term measures with a comprehensive and integrated water management policy.

:Selja Seeks Early Action on Yamuna-Ghaggar Link Project.
Making a strong case for the river interlinking proposal, Selja urged the Centre to undertake a detailed technical survey and prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for diverting surplus monsoon water from the Yamuna into the Ghaggar River through a scientifically designed link.
She said such a project would significantly reduce flood pressure in the Yamuna basin during heavy rainfall while ensuring that surplus water reaches water-deficient districts of Western Haryana, providing a sustainable irrigation source for thousands of farmers.
According to Selja, the project would also help reduce excessive dependence on groundwater and contribute towards improving the rapidly declining water table across the region.

:Develop Otu Lake as Western Haryana’s ‘Water Bank.
One of Selja’s key proposals was the large-scale revival of Otu Lake in Sirsa district, which she described as the ideal location to serve as a permanent “Water Bank” for Western Haryana.
She suggested that instead of allowing surplus monsoon water to flow away, it should be scientifically stored in Otu Lake for use during dry months, thereby strengthening irrigation security and ensuring better utilisation of available water resources.
Referring to official records, Selja noted that approximately 1,215.06 acres were acquired for the Otu Lake project during 1964-65, with nearly 1,134.53 acres remaining under the project after subsequent adjustments.
She demanded a fresh technical and revenue survey to determine the present status of the acquired land, assess possible encroachments and identify opportunities for expanding the lake’s storage capacity.
:Calls for Massive Desilting and Scientific Restoration
Highlighting the deteriorating condition of the reservoir, Selja said Otu Lake’s original storage capacity of around 9,118 acre-feet has drastically reduced over the decades due to continuous silt accumulation brought by the Ghaggar River.
She urged the Union Government to launch a dedicated “Otu Lake Revival and Water Storage Project” in partnership with the Haryana Government, incorporating scientific desilting, deep excavation, strengthening of embankments, improved inflow and outflow systems and long-term irrigation planning.
According to Selja, a fully restored Otu Lake could store monsoon water for several months and become a dependable irrigation source for Western Haryana while reducing groundwater extraction.
:Ghaggar Rejuvenation and Canal Network Need Immediate Attention
Selja also sought comprehensive desilting of the Ghaggar River and strengthening of embankments from Panchkula and Ambala to Fatehabad and Sirsa to minimise flood-related losses and improve the river’s carrying capacity.
She further demanded strict measures to prevent untreated sewage, industrial discharge and polluted water from entering the Ghaggar and called for a coordinated action plan to restore the river’s ecological health.
The Congress leader also urged the Centre to revive and modernise the ageing Sirsa Branch canal network originating from the Western Yamuna Canal, recommending reconstruction and capacity enhancement of canals, minors and distributaries wherever required.
She emphasised that merely releasing water into canals was not sufficient, and the distribution system must ensure that irrigation water reaches even the tail-end villages without discrimination.
:Fresh Assessment of Haryana’s Water Requirements
Selja also raised the issue of Haryana’s allocated 9,500 cusecs of water, arguing that the state’s growing population, expanding agricultural area, increasing drinking water demand and industrial development require a fresh assessment of future water needs.
She stressed that flood management and water scarcity should no longer be treated as separate challenges but addressed through a unified long-term strategy centred on water conservation, storage and equitable distribution.
Calling for a joint action plan between the Union and Haryana governments, Selja said scientific management of surplus monsoon water has the potential to transform what currently causes floods into a permanent source of prosperity, irrigation security and sustainable development for Sirsa, Fatehabad and the entire Western Haryana region.

POD/DESK